Ohio lawmakers fight regulatory redundancy

Ohio Reps. Jean Schmidt and Bob Gibbs have led an effort to reduce regulatory burdens that will harm Ohio farmers and other businesses and create needless expense for Ohio taxpayers.

Schmidt and Gibbs are sponsors of H.R. 872, which protects pesticide applicators, their customers and state and local government from costs associated with duplicating already existing federal pesticide regulations.

“At best, this is nothing more than paperwork redundancy,” said American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman. “At worst, this permit requirement will be used to delay or prevent essential crop protection. It invites anti-chemical activists to oppose pesticide use by threatening farmers with lawsuits and enormous federal penalties.”

Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s senior director of legislative and regulatory policy, explained the court-ordered expansion of EPA’s authority will not provide additional protections to the environment or human health. Instead, farmers, forest managers, state agencies, city and county municipalities, water districts and others will be burdened by another layer of bureaucracy and cost.

“Ohioans should be proud that Reps. Schmidt and Gibbs have taken a leadership role on this important national issue,” Sharp said.

Sharp said the court-ordered expansion of EPA authority is set to become effective April 9.Photo courtesy of American Farm Bureau.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is a member of American Farm Bureau Federation®, a national organization of farmers and ranchers including Farm Bureau® organizations in 49 other states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for Farm Bureau membership and programs within the State of Ohio. Ohio Farm Bureau Federation programs and services are available only to Farm Bureau members within Ohio. The political views expressed in these pages represent Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's positions on various issues as they relate to Ohio. The positions of the national Farm Bureau organization collectively are expressed through American Farm Bureau Federation. Any opinions, statements or views expressed through comments or by outside contributors are the express views of those individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.